GIT System Assessment Flashcards

Flashcards covering the anatomical structure, functions, history collection, and physical assessment techniques of the gastrointestinal system.

Nine Abdominal Regions

The nine anatomical divisions of the abdominopelvic cavity: Right Hypochondriac, Epigastric, Left Hypochondriac, Right Lumbar, Umbilical, Left Lumbar, Right Iliac (Inguinal), Hypogastric (Pubic), and Left Iliac (Inguinal) regions.

Abdominal Quadrants

The four anatomical divisions of the abdomen created by the intersection of the median plane and transumbilical plane at the belly button landmark: Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), and Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT)

A continuous hollow tube starting at the mouth and ending at the anus, composed of smooth muscle alternating with blood vessels and nerve tissue, which contracts via specialized circular and longitudinal fibers causing peristalsis.

Epiglottis

A flap sitting behind the root of the tongue that closes over the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway.

Stomach

A digestive organ positioned between the cardiac sphincter and pyloric sphincter that stores food, mixes food with gastric juices, and passes chyme into the small intestine; an average meal remains in the stomach for $3\text{--}4\text{ hours}$.

Gastric Rugae

Accordion-like folds located in the stomach lining that allow the stomach to expand to accommodate large amounts of food and fluid.

Chyme

A watery mixture of partly digested food and digestive juices formed in the stomach before passing into the small intestine.

Small Intestine

An organ approximately $6\text{ meters}$ long composed of three sections: the Duodenum ($25\text{ cm}$), Jejunum ($1\text{ m}$), and Ileum ($2\text{ m}$); it absorbs nutrients through its thin mucous membrane lining into the bloodstream.

Large Intestine (Colon)

A $1.5\text{ meters}$ long organ responsible for absorbing excess water and electrolytes, storing food residue, and eliminating waste as faeces; composed of the Cecum (with attached Appendix), Ascending Colon, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon, Sigmoid Colon, Rectum, and Anus.

Gallbladder

A small pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver to assist in fat digestion and absorption.

Pancreas

An accessory organ situated horizontally behind the stomach, consisting of a head, body, and tail; functions as an endocrine gland (releasing insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream) and an exocrine gland (producing digestive enzymes).

Liver

An accessory organ located in the right upper quadrant under the diaphragm responsible for metabolizing carbohydrates, detoxifying food, converting ammonia to urea for excretion, and synthesizing plasma proteins, nonessential amino acids, Vitamin A, iron, and Vitamins D, K, and B12.

Abdominal Vascular Structures

Blood vessels of the GIT where the abdominal aorta supplies blood, gastric and splenic veins drain absorbed nutrients into the portal vein of the liver, and blood leaves the liver via the hepatic vein into the inferior vena cava.

PQRST Method

A mnemonic method for assessing abdominal or epigastric pain: Provocation/palliation, Quality, Radiation, Severity scale, and Timing.

COLDSPA Method

A mnemonic method for comprehensive pain assessment: Character, Onset, Location, Duration, Severity, Pattern, and Associated factors/symptoms.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A formula used in nutritional assessment defined as $\text{BMI} = \frac{\text{weight (kg)}}{\text{height (m)}^2}$; categorized as Normal ($20\text{--}25$), Overweight ($25\text{--}29$), and Obese ($30+$).

Abdominal Assessment Sequence

The standard ordered order of techniques used during physical examination of the abdomen: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, and Palpation.

Normal Bowel Sounds

Abdominal auditory gurgles and clicks occurring at a normal frequency of $5\text{--}30\text{ per minute}$ across all four quadrants.

Hyperactive Bowel Sounds

Increased intestinal motility sound frequency, which can be normal after a meal, or caused by diarrhoea, early bowel obstruction, gastroenteritis, or anxiety.

Hypoactive Bowel Sounds

Decreased bowel sound frequency caused by reduced bowel activity, such as in paralytic ileus, constipation, peritonitis, or late bowel obstruction.

Borborygmi

High-pitched, rushing, or tinkling bowel sounds produced by intestinal straining to force fluids and/or air past an obstruction; caused by bowel obstruction, dilated bowel loops, fecal impaction, or gastroenteritis.

Absent Bowel Sounds

The total absence of intestinal motility, confirmed only after listening for at least $5\text{ minutes}$; caused by late bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, or trauma.

Tympany

A drum-like sound produced during abdominal percussion over hollow, air-filled organs such as an empty stomach or bowel.

Dullness

A thudding sound produced during abdominal percussion over solid organs such as the liver, or over intestines filled with faeces.

Light Abdominal Palpation

A physical assessment technique where fingers are kept close together to depress the skin about $1.3\text{ cm}$ in gentle rotating movements across all four quadrants to check for organ size, shape, position, tenderness, masses, or fluid accumulation.